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Kim Jong Il Visits Jonggwang Temple

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK via Korea News Service (KNS)

   Pyongyang, August 12 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il visited the Jonggwang Temple, an ancient historic and cultural site.
    The temple situated in Wonsa-ri, Riwon County, South Hamgyong Province, is one of the ancient structures built in mid-7th century.
    He was briefed on the historic relics. He learned in detail about how the temple is preserved and managed, walking round its interior and exterior including Taeung Hall, Myongbu Hall and the Sari Tower.
    The Jonggwang Temple is of great value as a national treasure because it keeps in their original state valuable historic relics including precious pictures vividly reflecting the phases of those times, he said, underscoring the need to show it to many people.
    Our country has lots of valuable historic and cultural relics as it boasts 5,000 year-long history and brilliant culture, he noted, adding that this is the pride of the Korean nation.
    He pointed out that historic and cultural relics in Korea had long remained eclipsed or destroyed due to the imperialists' persistent moves to obliterate the Korean nation and their wars of aggression, but they were restored to their original state to demonstrate their former glory in the era of the Workers' Party of Korea.
    He underlined the need for all fields to make energetic endeavors to properly preserve excellent national cultural heritages and imbue the people with greater pride and self-esteem of being members of the Korean nation.
    The historic and cultural relics are the nation's precious cultural treasures as they are associated with the superb architecture and outstanding artistic talents of the Korean people, he noted, adding that it is, therefore, necessary to pay special attention to preserving and managing them.
    He was accompanied by Kim Ki Nam, secretary of the Central Committee of the WPK, and Pak Nam Gi, department director of the C.C., WPK.